Story by Andrew
Gapsted Hidden Gem
Adventure in Gapsted, High Country, VIC, AU
Casa Cortes was our first stop on our three part journey to Byron Bay and boy did it set the bar high. Ronnie was an incredible host that went above and beyond to make sure we had a fulfilling three night stay. We had never even heard of Gapsted before this trip and had no idea what to expect. We turned down a dirt road and were greeted by rolling hills and cherry and walnut orchards and were immediately enchanted. Ronaldo intercepted us on arrival and gave us the lay of the land. He brought over bikes for us to ride down to their private river spot to go for a dip and pointed out a ladder in a nearby field where we could go pick our own cherries.
He told us of some nearby spots to grab coffee and dinner in Beechworth, a 15 min drive away. As well as a great waterfall spot for a refreshing dip on our way up to our sunset lookout on Mt. Buffalo.
We settled into our home away from home with ease. The open floor plan and decor were inspiring and made the space feel light and breezy. We also had some of our best nights sleep in the very comfortable bed. It was lovely to unwind after a hot day by either taking a long luxurious shower looking out at the orchards or sinking into the outdoor cast iron tub. 3 nights hardly felt like enough, we half joked we were moving in. Can't wait to return again one day and try out the other 2 accomodations Ronnie has on the property!...
He told us of some nearby spots to grab coffee and dinner in Beechworth, a 15 min drive away. As well as a great waterfall spot for a refreshing dip on our way up to our sunset lookout on Mt. Buffalo.
We settled into our home away from home with ease. The open floor plan and decor were inspiring and made the space feel light and breezy. We also had some of our best nights sleep in the very comfortable bed. It was lovely to unwind after a hot day by either taking a long luxurious shower looking out at the orchards or sinking into the outdoor cast iron tub. 3 nights hardly felt like enough, we half joked we were moving in. Can't wait to return again one day and try out the other 2 accomodations Ronnie has on the property!...
Things We Did
- Waterfall
- Lookout
- Swim
- Food & Drink
- Farm
A 45-minute drive from Casa Cortes takes you to the trailhead of Ladies Bath Falls. A clearly marked sign lets you know you are in the right place with a handful of parking spots just off the main road. It was only a 10 min walk to the base of the scenic falls. The water was chilly, but on a warm day, it would be a great place to take a dip in the shallow pools....
Continue from Ladies Baths to The Horn Lookout at the top of Mt. Buffalo. It's a bit further up the track, altogether a little over an hour from the accomodation but catching sunset up there is well worth it. If you make it in time, you can go for a short hike up the track from the lookout to catch a 360 view....
Pop on down to Beechworth to try some of the local fare. They offer an array of tasty beers - Andy went for the seasonal Magical Christmas unicorn vanilla ice cream beer which sounds like way too much flavor for a beer in my opinion but he liked it! They offer gluten free as well as regular pizza options with both indoor and outdoor seating....
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Where we stayed
Things we did
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